Snow White banned in Lebanon as boycott of £91,000,000 box office flop ramps up

Snow White has suffered yet another blow (Picture: Disney)

Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has been banned from playing in Lebanese cinemas.

Released last month, the movie is a reimagining of Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The remake stars Rachel Zegler as the titular character, while her evil stepmother the Queen is played by Gal Gadot.

However, even before it hit screens, Snow White was clouded in controversy, which has only ramped up in recent weeks.

Made on a production budget of $270 million (£203 million), the film has struggled to recoup costs, only making £111 million worldwide to date.

One of the most expensive movies ever made by Disney, the box office flop has now led the studio to put the live-action version of the 2010 animated feature Tangled on ice.

The Disney remake has been clouded in controversy ever since it was announced (Picture: Disney)

Now Snow White has suffered another blow after it was completely banned in Lebanon.

As reported by Variety, the ban was ordered by Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, who objected due to the presence of Israeli actress Gadot, 39.

According to local media, the politician was ‘prompted to take action by the country’s film and media watchdog amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have caused civilian deaths’.

However, a representative for the Beirut-based Middle East distributor Italia Films, which handles Disney titles in the region, told Variety that the actress had long been on the country’s ‘Israel boycott list’.

They added that no movie in which she stars, which have included Wonder Woman and Death on the Nile, have ever been released there.

The movie has now been banned in Lebanon due to it starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot(Picture: Disney) She’s been a vocal supporter of Israel over the years (Picture: Robert Smith/ Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

After the teaser trailer for Snow White was released in August last year, some called for a boycott of the film because of Gadot’s pro-Israel stance.

Before its release she also began receiving death threats, with Disney then providing additional security for her on the press tour.

What other controversies has Snow White faced?

Some people questioned a Latina actress being cast in the lead role

The story was slammed as being ‘backwards’

Rachel Zegler said the original story was about a guy who ‘stalks’ Snow White

Gadot, who was born in Israel has served in the Israel Defense Forces, has been a vocal advocate for her country, especially in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

In October 2023 she shared on Instagram: ‘I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!’